Tips to open FLA file

Can't open the FLA file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open FLA files as well as a list of programs that support FLA files.

FLA file extension

File Name Adobe Flash Animation
File Developer Adobe Systems
File Category Developer Files

The FLA file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the FLA files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the FLA file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 3
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is FLA file?

The .FLA file is an animation made in Flash technology. Unlike the .SWF file, which is already a closed animation, the .FLA file can be edited in the appropriate software. The animation may contain graphics, video files, static subtitles, and music. Currently, you can only edit .FLA files in Adobe Animate. Flash technology is being withdrawn from the market due to many imperfections and errors. Consequently, there are more and more problems with playing animations in .FLA and .SWF files.

How to open FLA file?

An often recurring problem with Adobe Flash Animation is that FLA is not associated with the correct program file. Thus, when you open FLA, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the FLA file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Adobe Flash Professional

The first step is to check if the computer has the Adobe Flash Professional program installed. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Adobe Flash Professional in it. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file FLA with Adobe Flash Professional. Below you will find a list of applications that support FLA files.

Step 2. Create association of Adobe Flash Professional with FLA files

If, despite the installed application, the FLA file does not start in the Adobe Flash Professional application, you must create a file association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the FLA file with the Adobe Flash Professional program.

Step 3. Update Adobe Flash Professional to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the Adobe Flash Professional program, it is possible that Adobe Flash Animation requires a newer version of the program.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the FLA file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. The most common file problems are:

The FLA file may be unusually small compared to the original file. Usually this applies to FLA files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file FLA or the program directory. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover FLA files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the FLA files changes over time. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair FLA file corruption.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted FLA files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. If possible, you can try to move the FLA file to another location.
This problem usually affects more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file FLA to close. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If the problem persists, restart the machine.